Partnership
opens optometry clinic in school
By Donella Hoffman
SASKATOON — It’s
now easier for children at St. Mary Community School to visit an optometrist.
They just have to head upstairs to an in-school clinic that is the first
of its kind in Saskatchewan.
The clinic began operation
this spring thanks to a partnership between the Saskatchewan Association
of Optometrists (SAO), the Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) and Greater
Saskatoon Catholic Schools.
While the clinic has been
available since April to St. Mary students, long-term plans are to ensure
that children in all nearby schools can access the services of an optometrist.
The clinic is currently staffed one day a week by local optometrists.
Cost for the basic equipment needed at the clinic is shared by the partners.
“The earlier a vision
problem is diagnosed and treated, the less negative impact it will have
on a child’s development,” explained Dr. Dorothy Barrie,
a Saskatoon optometrist. “Undetected and untreated vision problems
can interfere with a child’s ability to learn in school and other
childhood activities. Visual impairment in children can be associated
with developmental delays and the need for special education, vocational
and social service often beyond childhood and into adulthood.
“Ideally, all children
should receive a comprehensive eye examination by age three or at least
when they begin school,” said Barrie.
Children’s eye examinations
are covered under the provincial health plan.
“Our school division strives to help children reach their full
potential in the classroom and as people,” said Diane Boyko, chair
of the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools Board of Education. “This
clinic will help make sure they are not held back by undetected eye
problems.”
“The Saskatoon Tribal
Council is pleased to be able to contribute to the expansion of primary
health services available in the form of the new optometry clinic for
the children of St. Mary Community School and the people living in the
community,” said STC Tribal Chief Felix Thomas. “It further
advances our goal that a high quality of life is available to all our
members and First Nations people living in Saskatoon.”
Thomas said he is also pleased
that the project strengthens STC’s partnership with St. Mary and
introduces a new partner to the circle — the Saskatchewan Association
of Optometrists.
“The winners are the
children who will receive complete eye health and vision assessment,”
Thomas said. “This is a primary concern as poor vision can have
such an effect on childhood and on a child’s learning experience.”
St. Mary Community School
is also home to a pediatrics clinic. Medical, optometric and other wellness
services are included in plans for a new school, which are awaiting
final approval from the Ministry of Education before tenders are called
for.
Delivering community-based health services to children in low-income neighbourhoods is one part of the response to the Saskatoon Health Region health disparities study released in November 2006. It found that people living in the city’s core areas have significantly lower health status compared to other Saskatoon residents.
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